Camille Claudel (1988)

Biography of Camille Claudel. Sister of writer Paul Claudel, her enthusiasm impresses already-famous sculptor Auguste Rodin. He hires her as an assistant, but soon Camille begins to sculpt ... See full summary »

Director:

Bruno Nuytten

Writers:

Reine-Marie Paris (based on the book by), Bruno Nuytten (scenario and dialogue),

Stars:

Isabelle Adjani, Gérard Depardieu, Madeleine Robinson

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 9 wins & 8 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Isabelle Adjani	...	Camille Claudel
Gérard Depardieu	...	Auguste Rodin
Madeleine Robinson	...	Louise-Athanaise Claudel
Laurent Grévill	...	Paul Claudel
Philippe Clévenot	...	Eugène Blot
Katrine Boorman	...	Jessie Lipscomb
Maxime Leroux	...	Claude Debussy
Danièle Lebrun	...	Rose Beuret
Jean-Pierre Sentier	...	Limet
Roger Planchon	...	Morhardt
Aurelle Doazan	...	Louise Claudel
Madeleine Marie	...	Victoire
Alain Cuny	...	Louis-Prosper Claudel
Gérard Beaume
Martin Berléand	...	Robert

Storyline

Biography of Camille Claudel. Sister of writer Paul Claudel, her enthusiasm impresses already-famous sculptor Auguste Rodin. He hires her as an assistant, but soon Camille begins to sculpt for herself and for Rodin. She also becomes his mistress. But after a while, she would like to get out of his shadow...

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Plot Keywords:

sculptor | auguste rodin | camille claudel | insanity | reference to victor hugo | 

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | History | Romance

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Certificate:

R

Details

Official Sites:

MGM

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

21 December 1989 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Paixão de Camille Claudel

Box Office

Gross:

$201,055 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Les Films Christian Fechner, Lilith Films I.A., Gaumont

Technical Specs

Runtime:

175 min 158 min (cut)

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color (Fujicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

A major scene in the movie depicts the announcement of the death of Victor Hugo. In The Story of Adele H, Isabelle Adjani played Adèle Hugo, Victor Hugo's daughter who, like Camille Claudel, suffered from schizophrenia.

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Quotes

Camille Claudel: You're wrong to think it's about you. You're a sculptor, Rodin, not a sculpture. You ought to know. I am that old woman with nothing on her bones. And the aging young girl... that's also me. And the man is me too. Not you. I gave him my toughness. He gave me his emptiness in return. There you are... three times me. The Holy Trinity, trinity of emptiness.

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Connections

Referenced in La musica di Camille Claudel (2008)

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Soundtracks

"Spleen"
from "Ariettes oubliées"
Music by Claude Debussy
Poem by Paul Verlaine
Performed by Barbara Hendricks soprano, Michel Beroff piano
(p) EMI Classics

User Reviews

one of the most brilliant acting in a movie

How the american academy award could have forgotten one of the best performance of an actress ? it's a total mystery! The talent of Isabelle ADJANI is not at all recognized as it deserves. She's absolutely poignant in this part, from the young Camille to the crackin'up mature sculptor falling in despair and madness. The scene where Rodin touch her art in the dark and leads him to a scene where their respective egos fight each other, discovering the deep scars let by their devastating passion is an highlight of acting. At his level, it can be compared to "sunset boulevard" or "a streetcar named Desire".